Ladies, here’s your fun fact for the day: Before Monica Botkier started her awesome handbag line, she was a professional photographer. It only makes sense, then, that Monica would step back behind the lens to shoot a campaign for her bags from her own photographic perspective, but somehow, Botkier Spring 2012 is the first time that she’s done it.

The results are a set of simple, clean images that represent the bags well. Botkier seems to be stepping a little further into the realm of color than it has in previous seasons, and the pastels and brights in these photos fit with the season’s trends particularly well. Personally, my pick of the litter so far is the bright green tote with blue accents. Check out the rest of the ads (and bags!) after the jump.

Any longtime reader of this blog should be able to easily invision the archetypical Botkier handbag – a slouchy, soft leather satchel, usually in a dark color like black or chocolate brown with vintage-inspired touches. Those are the bags that have made the brand tick from the beginning, and although I love them, I’m still incredibly excited for the more colorful and structured options that the brand has created for Resort 2012. We already told you about the Botkier Eden Satchel, and today we’d like to introduce the Botkier Carlyle Bags – whether you’re looking for a satchel or a crossbody, a bright color or a modern texture, this line has you covered.

Botkier Carlyle Satchel, $545 via ShopBop

Botkier Carlyle Crossbody, $395 via ShopBop

These bags have everything you need for current trends – they’re structured, angular, bold. The satchel still has a note of the signature Botkier slouch, but they’re a bit more vibrant than the products for which the brand is generally known. I, for one, hope that Botkier stays on this fun, modern path. The accessories world needs someone making handbags this attractive at this price point.

That’s why I’m so excited to announce that the Botkier Eden Satchel is now available to anyone who loves ShopBop, which is everyone, duh. Winter is about to real dreary, real quick, so if you do yourself one favor before that happens, it should be to buy a bag that well serve as a bright, cheery pick-me-up all the way through next spring and summer. Treat yourself.

I’m feeling more vibrant already, and the incredibly rubberized red leather has to be seen to be believed. Buy through ShopBop for $595.

When Vlad and I visited the Botkier showroom last week, the bag that neither of us could take our eyes off of was the new Small Eden Satchel valued at $495. Monica sent me home with one myself and I can not stop singing its praises. The supple lambskin is absolutely luscious and the colorblocking adds a current spin on a classic shape.

Before the bag is available to anyone else, we’re partnering with Botkier to give one away to a lucky PurseBlog reader. The winner will be able to pick the color combination of her choice (all shown above).

To enter:

Comment on this post and answer this question: “What do you love or fear when it comes to color blocking?”

Contest will end this Sunday at 11:59 PM EST. One winner will be chosen to rock this bag before anyone else can! Major thanks to the lovely Botkier team for sponsoring this giveaway. Visit Botkier.com for more delicious bags.

When I laid eyes on this bag, I began to feel hungry. Images of chocolate bars and fudge danced through my head and I realized that not only does this bag remind me of one of my favorite food groups but also I do not own a dark brown bag. Both Amanda and I don’t usually care for brown handbags, but Botkier has released this delightful version of its coveted Sasha and I just might cave.

This is one of my favorite designs EVER, in the history of handbags, for many reasons. First off, the bag is both easy to carry and wear in a style that is sure to entice the majority of the handbag loving world. Second, for the price you pay, Botkier always gives quality leather, and this lambskin is going to be super soft and age magnificently over time. Third, and most importantly, do you all remember our Botkier + PurseBlog Exclusive Design? You created a one-of-a-kind Sasha Duffel bag and I will never forget it nor will it loose a place in my heart.

Obviously, we edited the photo of this bag. No, it will not melt when you touch it and spontaneously give you a handful of melted chocolate (wouldn’t that be amazing though?!). There you have all my reasons why this bag is delightful to look at, reminds me of chocolate, and will always be a favorite. Now I just need to buy it. Via ShopBop for $595.

Let’s be real here: The Kardashian family will put its name on anything you want them to, so long as you’re willing to wave a big enough check at them. As reality stars, that’s not necessarily a bad way to go about business – they seem fully aware that their shelf lives are short, and they’re socking away as much money as they can in the meantime. I know a lot of people seem to hold that against them, which I’ve never particularly understood. If someone was holding a check with lots of zeros and my name on it, I’d “spokesmodel” for any toothpaste, hair product or used car dealership that they might be shilling.

With that in mind, I doubt that Kim, Kourtney and Khloe had anything more than a passing involvement in their Kardashian Kollection (you can’t even make that up) for Sears, which was announced just a few days ago. But shame on whoever saw fit to add a nearly detail-for-detail knockff of the Botkier Clyde Bag to the line of short, tight dresses and jumpsuits.

When Botkier founder Monica Botkier emailed me these pictures a couple of days ago, I wash shocked. We’re all more than used to seeing cheap plastic imitations of designer bags at low-end retailers, but usually high-profile capsule lines are free of such obvious “inspiration.” How can a store or brand keep up the illusion (and it is entirely an illusion) that a piece was “designed” by a celebrity if it was so clearly designed by an independent accessories brand years ago?

Surely, Sears is banking on the fact that its customers either won’t have any idea where the design came from or won’t care, both of which are probably true. Still, though, it’s unfortunate when a big national chain stores that has the resources to design its own products instead decides to pick on a smaller brand that takes pride in its own creative work, particularly when the results of the design-pilfering are so widely publicized.

As we first told you about last week, this morning marks the beginning of Botkier’s first online sample sale, featuring classic bags like the Trigger and Sasha in never-before-sold colors and materials! Because Botkier loves you guys, they’ve given us a code for our readers to take 15% off your purchases at the sale, which will be online until 9 a.m. Friday. Hurry! The best stuff always goes first!

CLICK HERE and use code BTKHEARTSPB for 15% off the Botkier.com sample sale!

Don’t you just love the Internet? The deal-laden world of sample sales was once restricted only to those living in the world’s fashion capitals, but now more and more brands are bringing their sample sales online to give their worldwide fans a shot at some serious savings. PurseBlog favorite Botkier is staging its first-ever online sample sale on Tuesday, and not only will it include some of your favorite Botkier bags in never-before-seen colors, but you’ll get an extra 15% off the top, just for being a loyal PurseBlog reader or PurseForum member. Check back on Tuesday at 9 a.m. for a live link to the sale and the discount code, but for now, tell us which Botkier bag is your favorite and check out a video of my personal pick after the jump.

I also got to see this specific bag during a Spring 2011 preview back in October, and the color on this leather is amazing. The overall look is definitely a contemporary one, and juxtaposing soft, supple neon green leather with dark, shiny gunmetal hardware was a very smart decision. The two tones balance each other well and the dark hardware brings the bright bag down to Earth just enough to make it everyday wearable. If you’ve been hoping to find a bag that fulfill’s spring’s brights trend without emptying your bank account, it’d be hard to go wrong with this one. And just a tip – this bag slouches more than the picture would lead you to believe. Buy through ShopBop for $395.

‘Tis official, the holiday shopping season has arrived! We will be bringing you gift guides and holiday picks from some of our favorite designers and stores in the upcoming weeks. To kick it off we asked Monica Botkier what’s her favorite bag for the holiday season.

Monica chose the Botkier Bleecker Satchel in oro – which she is currently carrying herself. When asked why she picked this bag Monica said, “I am obsessed with my Bleecker satchel in Oro- it is the perfect bag for the holiday season! The soft muted gold color and woven chain and leather handle add a super glam element for a little holiday festiveness.” And Monica is giving the bag away to one lucky PurseBlog/Botkier facebook fan!

How to enter:

1) Like Botkier on facebook and PurseBlog on facebook.

2) Leave a comment on PurseBlog’s Facebook Page telling us why you want to win this bag!

We will choose one random winner on Monday, November 29th, at 10:00 AM EST. Good luck everyone and thanks to Botkier!